ESPN Disrespects Bruins With Sabres Playoff Series Prediction originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Most Boston Bruins fans are in agreement that drawing the Buffalo Sabres in their first playoff series since 2011 is the best-case scenario in head coach Marco Sturm’s first season. However, much of the mainstream media is backing the young and exciting Sabres to turn their first playoff berth into their first playoff win.ESPN’s flagship NHL writer, Greg Wyshynski, doesn’t think it will be particularly close.

“I don't think the Bruins defend well enough to pull an upset here,” Wyshynski wrote. “Bruins coach Marco Sturm said this week that ‘we are bigger, stronger, and we are more physical.’ Even if that were true -- and a glance at the rosters says it isn't -- the Sabres showed in their epic regular-season battles against the Lightning that they can take a punch, wipe their mouths and score the next goal. Despite their postseason pedigree, they're ready for this.”Wyshynski’s official prediction is that the Sabres will take this series in just five games, and I simply cannot get behind that.I have no clue where Wyshynski is pulling this number from.

The Bruins took the regular season series 3-1 with backup goalie Joona Korpisalo starting a majority of the games. The Sabres only won five more games than Boston and ended the season with a very favorable schedule down the stretch. The Bruins have a chance to remind the young Buffalo squad what competing with playoff teams feels like, and, if Sturm’s quote was any indication, they’re looking forward to doing exactly that.I believe the Bruins will have every opportunity to take this series and would be absolutely dumbfounded if it ends in five, as Wyshynski predicted.More NHL: Bruins Plan To Rely On The 'Big Guys' To Set Tone Against Sabres